Astros clinch playoff berth despite loss to Braves
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros (38-29) clinched an Appalachian League playoff berth on Thursday night despite a 3-2 loss to the Danville Braves (28-36). The Astros earned their spot in the playoffs following a loss by the Elizabethton Twins to eliminate them from the playoff contention. It is the Astros' first time back in the playoffs since their inaugural season in 2004.
With the Kingsport Mets' win over the Bluefield Blue Jays on Thursday, the semifinal round in the West Division is set. The Astros will host the Mets at Pioneer Park in game one of the best-of-three series on Saturday at 7:00pm. Tickets for Saturday's home playoff game will be available at the Astros ticket office beginning on Friday at 10:00am. Game two and game three, if necessary, will be played at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport.
In Thursday's game, the Braves took an initial 2-0 lead on a Ronald Luna RBI single in the second inning and a Victor Reyes RBI single in the third. Then, the Astros cut the Braves' lead in half in the fifth inning when Thomas Lindauer scored after a fielding error on an Edwin Gomez fly ball into right field. Finally, the Astros tied the game on a similar scenario in the seventh inning when Lindauer scored as Gomez got on base with a Braves' error at second.
After a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, the game went into an extra frame. With a runner on first base in the top of the 10th inning, Danville's John Camargo singled and Cody Livesay scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error. Although the Astros got the tying run on base in the bottom of the 10th inning on an Edwin Gomez base hit, they could not drive him home.
Ultimately, the winning pitcher for the Braves was reliever Jordan Sechler. He pitched the final three innings for Danville and gave up one hit.
The Astros will face the Braves in the regular season finale game on Friday at 7:00pm. It will be Fan Appreciation Night with Season Finale Fireworks immediately following the game. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.